Attachment for incubator



Dec. 20, 1932. w. o. COLLINS 1,891,800 ATTACHMENT FOR INCUBATORS FiledApril 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z I 1,1?" I I 32 71/5400 sw/rzw 7 LINE miL I W00 60ZZZh6mVENToR Dec. 20, 1932. w. o. co| 1 1Ns ATTACHMENT FORINCUBATORS Filed April 6. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec.20, 1932 1,891,8(iii WILLIAM 0. COLLINS, OF WELLSVILLE, KANSASATTACHMENT Eon INCUBATOR' 2 Application filed April 6, 1931.. Serial N0.528,180.

The object of the invention is to provide a means for incorporation inincubators, whereby the temperatureconditions in the latter may bepromptly ascertained by a very simple inspection; to provide athermometer support for placement in the egg tray and of a character tobe readily retained in place therein; and to provide an observationmeans for the thermometer readily illuminated at the time it is desiredto make an inspection.

With this object in sists in a construction and combination of parts orwhich a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand to which the invention is not to be restricted. The right isreserved to make such changes or alterations as the actual reduction topractice may suggest in so far as such changes or alterations arecomprehended by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through an incubator showingthe invention applied in operative position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by theline '3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure at is a diagrammatic view showing the method of energizing thelamp on electrically operated incubators.

While requiring no modification of the conventional incubator for itsapplication,

the invention is designed as a permanent attachment for the latter andconsists of a tube 10 carrying a lens 11 at its upper end and amagnifying lens 12 at its lower end. The tube 10 is designed to extendthrough the top 14 of the incubator and the only modification of thelatter necessary is the boring ot the hole for this tube. The tube isretained in position by means of fastening screws 15 assing through asupporting plate 16 to which the tube is secured. V

Adjacent the lower end, the tube is surrounded with a clamp 17diametrically contractible by means of a screw 18 so that the clamp maybe brought into firm binding engagement with the tube and thus retain inview the invention conplace the flexible extension 19.- The clamp 17also serves as a means for supporting the lamp socket 20 in which'iscarri'edla small lamp bulb 21. 1 Y

A thermometer 22 is carried by an angularly bent plate 23 which in turnis secured to a base plate 24; the latter having punched tromit'thespurs 25 which are turned. downwardly, so that they may engage in themeshes of the reticulated'bottom 26 of the egg tray. By reason of thespurs .25, the base platej24= may be positioned directly below the tube10 and there will be no danger ot'it s lateral displacement because ofthe spurs engaging the meshes of the tray. Also, the eggs surroundingthe thermometer will tend to keep itsbase plate infirm contact with thetray bottom.

Since the thermometer is disposedldirectly below the inspection tube,when thelamp' 21 is lighted, the thermometer is fully illuminated andit'is possible to quickly ascertain the temperature of heat in theincubator the thermometer being magnified by the lens12'i Illuminationof'thelamp 21fmay be had V by means of abattery 27 which may-beflappropriately supported, on the wallet the in? cubator. This battery isdirectly connected with the lamp by means of theleadsf 28 in one-ofwhichisinterposed push button switch 29, the, latter, being mounted in thetop wall of the'incuba'tor, preferably adj acent the a tube 10; Thebattery may be mounted either insideor outside the incubator. 1 It. maybe found preferable sometimes to mount'it1out= side, although in theillustrated embodiment, it is show-ninteriorto theeincubator.

The flexible extension 19' of the inspection tube serves as a means tokeep chicks from climbing on top of and thereby obscuring thethermometer. Also, while constituting an extension for the inspectiontube, it is yieldable to any obstruction that it may meet in withdrawingthe egg tray.

Where incubators are electrically operated, the inspection lamp 21 maybe energized from the electric circuit. A diagrammatic plan of thisarrangement is illustrated in Figure 4. The heating resistance 30 is energized from the line indicated at 31 in one leg of which is interposeda thermostatic m switch 32. The resistance is tapped as indicated at 33and 34, the tap 33 being carried to one terminal of the lamp 21 and thetap 34 to .one of the movable contacts 35 of a double contact switch.The contact 36 which is the fixed companion contact to contact 35 isconnected to the other terminal of the lamp while the correspondingcontact 37 is connected to one terminal of the resistance 30 to whichthe thermostatic switch is also connected. The movable contact 36 isconnected to that lead of the line in which the thermostatic switch isincluded but ahead of the thermostatic switch. By this means, when thelight switch is closed, the lamp is in shunt with the resistance 30between the points 34 and 33 and current is always availableirrespective of whether the thermostatic switch is open or closed. Whenthe light J switch is closed current passes from the line to the contact36, thence ccntact37 to one terminal of the resistance 30, thence to thetap 34, where it divides, part passing to the contact 35, thence tocontact 36, through the lamp tap 33 and then through the remainder ofthe resistance back to the line.'

The invention having been described, what I is claimed as new and usefulis 1. Means for the purpose indicated comprising a pendent tube providedwith a lens at its lower end, and a lamp carried by the tube as alateral attachment to the latter adjacent the lens to illuminate anobject placed below the tube, the tube'having a flexible tubularextension below the plane of the lens and the rays from the lamp passingthrough said extension onto the object under observation.

2. Means for the purpose indicated comprising a pendent tube providedwith a lens at its lower end, a lamp carried by the tube as a lateralattachment to the latter adjacent the lens to illuminate an objectplaced below the tube, the tube having a flexible tubular extensionbelow the plane of the lens and the rays from the lamp passing throughsaid extension onto the object under observation, and a clamp contractedinto binding engagement with the tube to support the lamp and retain theextension.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM O. COLLINS.

